Written Answers

Tuesday 31 October 2000

Scottish Executive

Cancer

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether flexible working will be introduced to allow cancer treatments to be carried out in the evenings and at weekends to ensure fuller utilisation of capital equipment and investment.

Susan Deacon: Based on the assessed needs of their resident populations, and the services required to meet those needs, it is a matter for health boards and NHS Trusts to put in place appropriate arrangements to ensure delivery of the best care possible for patients.

Disabled People

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the review of the European Blue Badge Scheme for disabled people and what progress the review has made so far.

Sarah Boyack: It is expected that the UK review of the scheme will be completed by June 2001. The review involves a series of discussion groups with delegates from a wide range of national and local organisations and disabled people. The findings from all the discussions - those in Scotland took place on 23, 24 and 26 October - will form the basis of a consultation document which will be widely circulated. Responses to this will form the basis for recommendations on the future shape of the scheme.

Eating Disorders

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the recommended maximum waiting period for the treatment of patients with eating disorders, and which health boards meet this target.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to setting national maximum waiting times in the three national clinical priorities of cancer, heart disease and mental health. The Mental Health and Well Being Support Group is currently working closely with the Health Service in Scotland on the development of waiting times targets for mental health. These will embrace eating disorders.

  The targets will be included in the Scottish Health Plan, which will be published later this year.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the fourth Annual Report and Accounts for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be published.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has published its fourth Annual Report and Accounts today. The report contains details of the progress made by SEPA during the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000, the agency’s fourth year of operation. A copy of the Annual Report and Accounts, together with a report by the Auditor General for Scotland on SEPA’s audited accounts, have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.